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Friday, November 5, 2010

Meeting George "Jun" Plaza-The Real Life Hero From Dahican

One of the highlights of our one day stay in Dahican was meeting Mr. George "Jun" Plaza. He was recently featured in the Heroes section of Readers Digest Asia October 2010 issue.

That's me with Mr. George "Jun" Plaza.

Manong Jun signing our Readers Digest copy where he was featured.

Manong Jun helped develop the skimboarding and surfing skills of some local boys in Dahican. He founded the Amihan sa Dahican Skim and Surf Team with the aim of not only teaching the sport but also to keep these kids and teens away from vices such as smoking and drinking. His team also takes charge of cleaning the beach and with their efforts, a hectare of Dahican waters was declared as a marine sanctuary by the local government.

My wife, Malou, with Manong Jun holding the Readers Digest mag.

We got the chance to meet Manong Jun since the Amihan area is only a few hundred meters away from the Botona Dahican Beach Resort where my wife and I stayed. The Amihan team was busy preparing for the Mati Annual Skimboarding Competition but still Manong Jun and his younger brother (also a skimboarder/surfer) still find time to talk to us. He signed our copy of the Readers Digest issue where he was featured and agreed to pose for some picture taking. He even took the surfboard he was holding in the RD photo so that we could take our own photos holding it.

Manong Jun took this pic of me and my wife holding his surfboard.

It's not every day you get the chance to meet a real life hero.

Travel tips:

* If you're looking for an affordable place to stay in Dahican, you can pitch your own tent at the Amihan area. Charge is only Php 50.00/day.

* You can hire the Amihan team members to teach you skimboarding and surfing lessons. They can also act as your tour guides and even cook your meals.